assassinated by the command of Henry III. of France, who was himself murdered by a fanatic monk, though he endeavoured to atone for his great crimes by a most scrupulous observance of all the rites and ceremonies of his religion (2). If the pen of the historian or biographer be employed in a detail of the folly and wickedness of men, their punishment, and the retribution of Divine Justice equally demand his attention, IN (2) Epitaph on the Tomb which contained the Heart of Henry III. late King of France and Poland; slain 1589 by a Jacobine Friar. "Adsta, viator, et dole regum vicem. "Tectus cucullo hunc sustulit sicarius. "Abi, viator, et dole regum vicem." Thus paraphrastically Englished. Whether thy choice or chance thee hither brings, F. D. 260. In the general consternation, which prevailed at this awful season of unforeseen and unexpected treachery, Mr. Sidney preserved his own life, by taking refuge, with several of his countrymen, in the house of Sir Francis Walsingham. At the instance of Lord Leicester, who had almost a paternal affection for his nephew, a memorial was presented without delay to Walsingham, by order of the privy council. In a long letter, wherein matters of great political importance are discussed, it is added-" Where we understand "that the English gent. who were at Paris at the time of "the execution of the murther, are forced to retire to your house, where they did wisely for your care of them, we and their friends are beholding to you, and "we think good that they be advised to return home "and namely, we desire you to procure for the Lord "Wharton (3) and Mr. Philip Sidney, the licence and "safe (3) Thomas Wharton, Esq. was in 1544 created Baron Wharton, in Westmoreland. He signalized himself at the battle of Pinkie, or Musselburgh, in 1547. He died July 14, 1572, and was succeeded by his eldest son Philip, the young nobleman for whose safety the privy council expressed such anxiety. Though he himself escaped from the massacre, his tutor, who had arrived from England the day before, was slain.-" Alas! he was acquainted with no one, nor could be partaker of any evil dealing." Digges's compleat Ambassador, p. 252. "safe conduct to come thence; and so we require you to give them true knowledge of our minds thereon." Sept. 9, 1572. NOT satisfied with sending this memorial, Leicester urged the return of his relation, in a private letter addressed to Walsingham, wherein he freely delivered his sentiments on the cruel and perfidious conduct of the French court. The supine apathy of the English ministry at this time, excites our surprise. The common intercourse which subsisted between the two courts, was far from being interrupted. The negotiation for establishing a more intimate union, by the marriage of the Queen with a Prince of the house of Valois, was immediately renewed. It has been remarked that this behaviour was disgraceful to the English nation, and that it was entirely different from that of Cromwell in the seventeenth century, on occasion of the Piedmontese slaughter, which is the subject of one of Milton's beautiful sonnets. Firm and resolute in extending his assistance to the afflicted Protestants in Piedmont, the Protector rescued them from misery and oppression. His very name overwhelmed their enemies with terrour and confusion. The Duke of Savoy listened: to the representations of the English government; and the Pope, the triple tyrant," as Milton calls him in the sonnet abovementioned, was alarmed at the denunciation of Cromwell's avenging justice, "that his ships in the. "Mediterranean would visit Civita Vecchia, and the "sound of his cannon be heard in Rome." Be this as it may, the political conduct of Elizabeth seems to have been dictated by the most consummate wisdom. The evil was already done, and though the assassination was atrocious in the extreme, it was not within her province to involve her subjects in a destructive war, while she had already very powerful enemies to contend with, both at home and abroad. She openly declared her abhorrence of the savage butchery; her counsellors uniformly agreed with her in protesting against it. What language could be more emphatically descriptive of their sentiments than that which they used? They termed it—“the late execu“tion"—"the_murther"—" the lamentable tragedy which "doth make all Christians look for a just revenge at God's "hands"-" a treason and cruelty more barbarous than "ever the Scythians used". "the great slaughter and "horrible murther, without regard either had to sex or age of those of the religion." They declared "that "seals or words of princes were traps to catch the innocent, " and to bring them to butchery." ་¢ MR. PHILIP SIDNEY, having thus escaped the danger which threatened him, proceeded in his travels without returning into England. On his departure from Paris, Sir Francis Walsingham, who appears to have always entertained a strong predilection in his favour, apprehensive lest some sinister event should occur from the evil practices of his servants, recommended him to the care of Dr. John Watson, then Dean, and afterward Bishop of Winchester. Thus were his youthful years guarded from evil, under the guidance of a wise and good man. Of the nature of those practices it is in vain to conjecture. Much praise is due to the tenderness and anxiety, with which our ancestors watched over the morals of our English youth, who travelled abroad. A report having prevailed, that one of the attendants of Mr. Sidney died on the road, Walsingham's anxiety impelled him to address the Earl of Leicester in the following letter: "To the right honourable and his very good Lord, the Earl of Leicester." "IT may please your Lordship to understand, that by "certain that returned from Frankfort, I understand that "one of the gentlemen that departed hence with intention. |